Engineering Commons^™

Encoding Time-Series Ground Motions As Images For Convolutional Neural Networks-Based Seismic Damage Evaluation, Xinzhe Yuan, Dustin Tanksley, Pu Jiao, Liujun Li, Genda Chen, Donald C. Wunsch

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Traditional methods for seismic damage evaluation require manual extractions of intensity measures (IMs) to properly represent the record-to-record variation of ground motions. Contemporary methods such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for time series classification and seismic damage evaluation face a challenge in training due to a huge task of ground-motion image encoding. Presently, no consensus has been reached on the understanding of the most suitable encoding technique and image size (width × height × channel) for CNN-based seismic damage evaluation. In this study, we propose and develop a new image encoding technique based on time-series segmentation (TS) to transform acceleration …

Abrasion Resistance Of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete For Railway Sleepers, Ariful Hasnat, Nader Ghafoori

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

This study aimed to determine the abrasion resistance of ultra-high-performance concretes (UHPCs) for railway sleepers. Test samples were made with different cementitious material combinations and varying steel fiber contents and shapes, using conventional fine aggregate. A total of 25 UHPCs and two high-strength concretes (HSCs) were selected to evaluate their depth of wear and bulk properties. The results of the coefficient of variation (CV), relative gain in abrasion, and abrasion index of the studied UHPCs were also obtained and discussed. Furthermore, a comparison was made on the resistance to wear of the selected UHPCs with those of the HSCs typically …

Establishment Of Regional Phytoremediation Buffer Systems For Ecological Restoration In The Great Lakes Basin, Usa. Ii. New Clones Show Exceptional Promise, Andrej Pilipović, Ronald S. Zalesny, Elizabeth R. Rogers, Bernard G. Mcmahon, Neil D. Nelson, Joel Gerard Burken, Richard A. Hallett, Chung Ho Lin

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Poplar tree improvement strategies are needed to enhance ecosystem services’ provisioning and achieve phytoremediation objectives. We evaluated the establishment potential of new poplar clones developed at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) from sixteen phytoremediation buffer systems (phyto buffers) (buffer groups: 2017 × 6; 2018 × 5; 2019 × 5) throughout the Lake Superior and Lake Michigan watersheds. We divided clones into Experimental (testing stage genotypes) and Common (commercial and/or research genotypes) clone groups and compared them with each other and each NRRI clone (NRRI group) at the phyto buffers. We tested for differences in clone …

Modeling Considerations For Built-Up Compression Members In Communication Towers, Ghada M. El-Mahdy P.Eng., Ceng, Amro A. Alawamry

Civil Engineering

It is a well-established fact that built-up compression members exhibit extra flexibility than their equivalent solid members due to the shear action which effects the overall stability. This is usually taken into consideration by using a modified slenderness ratio for buckling modes that involve relative deformation of the interconnectors. Built-up members are often used as space truss members in communication towers. When modeling communication towers in structural analysis programs like SAP2000, the built-up member is usually defined as a single member element with a double section cross section. This does not catch the increase in deflection in the member due …

Evaluation Of Permanent Concrete Barriers To Mash 2016, Samuel Elias Hovde

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The objective of this research project was to develop evaluation criteria for permanent concrete barriers to MASH 2016 TL-3 and TL-4 without crash testing and then to evaluate permanent concrete barrier standards provided by the sponsoring agencies of the Midwest Pooled Fund Program. A literature review was conducted to determine evaluation criteria for stability, shape, strength, and anchorage, and a database of permanent concrete barrier crash tests was compiled. A survey was conducted to collect barrier standards from the members of the Midwest Pooled Fund Program, and barriers were selected and evaluated according to the determined methodology. A total of …

Establishment Of Regional Phytoremediation Buffer Systems For Ecological Restoration In The Great Lakes Basin, Usa. I. Genotype X Environment Interactions, Ronald S. Zalesny, Andrej Pilipović, Elizabeth R. Rogers, Joel Gerard Burken, For Full List Of Authors, See Publisher's Website.

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Poplar remediation systems are ideal for reducing runoff, cleaning groundwater, and delivering ecosystem services to the North American Great Lakes and globally. We used phytorecurrent selection (PRS) to establish sixteen phytoremediation buffer systems (phyto buffers) (buffer groups: 2017 × 6; 2018 × 5; 2019 × 5) throughout the Lake Superior and Lake Michigan watersheds comprised of twelve PRS-selected clones each year. We tested for differences in genotypes, environments, and their interactions for health, height, diameter, and volume from ages one to four years. All trees had optimal health. Mean first-, second-, and third-year volume ranged from 71 ± 26 to …

Seismic Performance Of Rc Beam-Column Edge Joints Reinforced With Austenite Stainless Steel, C Xu, Moncef L. Nehdi, Maged A. Youssef, L. V. Zhang

Civil and Environmental Engineering Publications

Using stainless steel (SS) reinforcement can mitigate colossal corrosion damage inflicted to reinforced concrete (RC) structures worldwide. However, there is still dearth of studies on the seismic behavior of SS-RC structures. Hence, quasi-static tests were carried out in this study to explore the seismic performance of three RC frame edge joint specimens reinforced with SS having strength grade of 500 and one control RC specimen made with grade 400 normal steel. RC edge frame joints reinforced with ordinary steel and SS exhibited similar bending-shear failure patterns at the beam root. The load bearing capacity of the SS-RC edge fame joint …

Advanced Concrete Composites For Improved Performance: A Bibliometric Survey, Dhruv Patel, Aryan Tiwari, Nishnat Nikhare, Rohit Shinde, Ashutosh Dubey, Manan Shah, Shalaka Hire, Sayali Sandbhor

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Concrete is the core component of any civil engineering construction. Conventional concrete can be modified depending upon the needs and requirements of the construction. Such concrete is called advanced concrete and this report aims to study advanced concrete and its composites. The main objective of this report is to perform a bibliographic survey on the latest research literature available under the domain of advanced concrete composites for improved performance. Timespan considered for the survey is from the year 2015 to 2020. The bibliographic survey consists of literature from online platforms such as the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus database. …

Human-Robot Collaboration For Effective Bridge Inspection In The Artificial Intelligence Era, Ruwen Qin

INSPIRE Archived Webinars

Advancements in sensor, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and robotic technologies have formed a foundation to enable a transformation from traditional engineering systems to complex adaptive systems. This paradigm shift will bring exciting changes to civil infrastructure systems and their builders, operators and managers. Funded by the INSPIRE University Transportation Center (UTC), Dr. Qin’s group investigated the holism of an AI-robot-inspector system for bridge inspection. Dr. Qin will discuss the need for close collaboration among the constituent components of the AI-robot-inspector system. In the workplace of bridge inspection using drones, the mobile robotic inspection platform rapidly collected big inspection video data that …

Development Of Design Tables For The Cold-Formed Steel Cross-Sections In Aisi D100, Committee On Specifications For The Design Of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications, Standards, Manuals and Research Reports (1946 - present)

This report with the tables in an Excel file intends to provide the local and distortional buckling strengths for the cross-sections provided in AISI Cold-Formed Steel Design Manual to aid design engineers.

Development Of Cufsm Hole Module And Design Tables For The Cold-Formed Steel Cross-Sections With Typical Web Holes In Aisi D100, Committee On Specifications For The Design Of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications, Standards, Manuals and Research Reports (1946 - present)

This report summarizes the effort to develop a simple hole module to perform elastic buckling analysis to obtain the design parameters needed for DSM considering the influence of holes. The hole module requires simple inputs and direct outputs of the elastic buckling information of the local and distortional buckling modes for both gross sections and sections with hole influences.

Review Of Testing By Analysis For Potential Implementation Into Aisi Standards, Committee On Specifications For The Design Of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications, Standards, Manuals and Research Reports (1946 - present)

New product development is crucial to allow innovation in the cold-formed steel structural industry. However, the required physical testing of new components and assemblies are often a cost barrier which prevents implementation and slows new product development. Testing by analysis can be a good alternative to physical testing as it reduces the expense and time for performing physical experiments, however, two considerations are necessary to ensure accurate results. First, it requires a rational engineering analysis to calculate the capacities and deformations of the system, and the requirements to produce accurate analyses must be explicitly stated. Second, it is necessary to …

Steel Diaphragm Innovation Initiative, Year 5, Final Report, American Iron And Steel Institute

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications, Standards, Manuals and Research Reports (1946 - present)

Summary

The Steel Diaphragm Innovation Initiative (SDII) is a multi-year industry-academic-government partnership to advance the seismic performance of steel floor and roof diaphragms utilized in steel buildings. This report provides a final report for Year 5 of the overall 5-year SDII plan. Contributions in the final 12 months (1 Jan. 2020 – 31 Dec. 2020) include the following highlights.

Innovation and Practice:

• Adoption in ASCE 7 of new provisions for bare steel deck including methods for buildings with rigid walls and flexible diaphragms, alternative diaphragm design with R_s, and special seismic detailing (following on from successful adoption in …

Tutorials For Mastan 2 And Related Validation, Committee On Specifications For The Design Of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications, Standards, Manuals and Research Reports (1946 - present)

This report creates the tutorials helping engineers to correctly model and analyze structural systems comprised of non-doubly symmetric sections using the latest version of MASTAN2. The report also validated a MASTAN2 model using non-doubly symmetric sections against results from a small test program. The following report and tutorials are provided:

AISI Small Project Summary – Tutorials for MASTAN2 and Related Validation

• Tutorial for MASTAN2 v5.1 - Introductory Frame
• Tutorial for MASTAN2 v5.1 - Pour Stop Beam
• Tutorial for MASTAN2 v5.1 - Steel Joist

Low-Cost Modal Identification Sensors For Bridge Field Testing, Daniel Linzell, Saaed Eftekhar Azam, Samira Ardani, Ahmed E Rageh

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

This report provides a framework for experimental load rating of bridges via inclusion of low-cost dynamic sensors and dynamic tests. Currently 25% of the bridges in Nebraska are posted for live load. According to the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) in 2012, 93% of all postings in the US were based analytical load ratings, 7% were posted using field evaluation and engineering judgement, and 1% were posted using experimental load rating methods.

Instrumentation costs and traffic interruptions can be problematic when load testing is necessary to accurately assess in-situ bridge live load capacity. Recent advances in (i) sensing technology and (ii) …

Quantitative Evaluation Of Asphalt Binder Extraction From Hot Mix Asphalt Pavement Using Ashing And Centrifuge Methods, Ahmed Hemida, Magdy Abdelrahman, Eslam Deef-Allah

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Asphalt binder requires more investigation to be accurately and precisely extracted since it is an effective procedure for quality assurance quality control (QA/QC) and subsequent binder characterization. In this research, the authors presented a hands-on experience with binder extraction to deliver recommendations concerning the sensitive steps that may affect the outcomes (extracted binder content, P_be%). Two mineral matter determination methods (ashing and centrifuge) were addressed based on the centrifuge extraction method. Field cores were investigated by comparing the P_be% to the actual binder content, P_ba%. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey Post-Hoc statistical analyses, …

Flood Hazard Assessment For The Tori Levee Breach Of The Indus River Basin, Pakistan, Babar Naeem, Muhammad Azmat, Hui Tao, Shakil Ahmad, Muhammad Umar Khattak, Sajjad Haider, Sajjad Ahmad, Zarif Khero, Christopher R. Goodell

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

Levee breaches are some of the most common hazards in the world and cause the loss of lives, livelihoods, and property destruction. During the 2010 flood in Pakistan, the most devastating breach occurred at Tori Levee on the right bank of the Indus River, downstream of the Guddu Barrage, which caused residual floods in northern Sindh and the adjoining regions of the Balochistan province. In this study, 2D unsteady flow modeling performed for Tori Levee breach computed residual flood inundation by coupling a HEC-RAS (Hydrological Engineering Centre-River Analysis System) 2D hydraulic model with remote sensing and Geographic Information System techniques. …

Machine Learning Enables Prompt Prediction Of Hydration Kinetics Of Multicomponent Cementitious Systems, Jonathan Lapeyre, Taihao Han, Brooke Wiles, Hongyan Ma, Jie Huang, Gaurav Sant, Aditya Kumar

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Carbonaceous (e.g., limestone) and aluminosilicate (e.g., calcined clay) mineral additives are routinely used to partially replace ordinary portland cement in concrete to alleviate its energy impact and carbon footprint. These mineral additives—depending on their physicochemical characteristics—alter the hydration behavior of cement; which, in turn, affects the evolution of microstructure of concrete, as well as the development of its properties (e.g., compressive strength). Numerical, reaction-kinetics models—e.g., phase boundary nucleation-and-growth models; which are based partly on theoretically-derived kinetic mechanisms, and partly on assumptions—are unable to produce a priori prediction of hydration kinetics of cement; especially in multicomponent systems, wherein chemical interactions among …

A High-Temperature-Resistant Inorganic Matrix For Concrete Structures Enhanced By Fiber-Reinforced Polymer, Jing Zhu, Wenzhong Zheng, Lili Xie, Lesley Sneed

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper probed deep into a high-temperature resistant inorganic matrix: alkali-activated slag cement (AASC), which is a kind of cementitious material prepared by alkali-activator and pozzolanic or latent hydraulic material. Firstly, the mix ratio of the AASC was optimized to improve the wettability and mechanical properties. Then, the effects of the adhesive matrix and the type of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) were observed through FRP-to-concrete bond tests on 93 specimens. The test results, coupled with anchorage analysis, indicate that the AASC has comparable reinforcing effects as those of organic epoxy matrix; the anchorage length of FRP sheets has a significant influence …

An Approach To Mapping The Development Of Professional Skills In A Structural Engineering Programme, Patrick Crean, Dervilla Niall, Una Beagon, Aimee Byrne, Darren Carthy, Caitríona De Paor, Louise Lynch

Conference Papers

Engineers of the future will be presented with complicated, complex problems and their role in the development of sustainable solutions to global problems will become even more critical. Recent literature highlights the need for the development of a set of professional skills in order to address these challenges. These skills include technical, non-technical and attitudinal skills. This paper describes a case study of a whole-of-programme review of teaching and assessment of professional skills in a structural engineering programme. In a systematic process, lecturing staff mapped the modules they teach against a set of professional skills, which were distilled from literature …

A Critical Analysis Of The Application Of Visual Programming To Increase Efficiency In Bim Object Metadata Delivery Workflows During The Delivery Phase Of An Asset, Kieran Lakhera O'Shea, Davitt Lamon

Reports

Uniclass 2015 data generally seems to be overlooked in favour of the more valuable COBie data when discussion begins about BIM model metadata and, at present, few studies are devoted to it and its delivery through automated methodologies. Classification is a key part of the BIM process – without the ability to distinguish one object from another a BIM model lacks the definition required for implementing downstream applications such as functional simulations, compliance checking and other automated technologies. The use of classification data is, of course, not the only way of identifying objects but it is currently the only standardised …

To What Extent Can Innovative International Project Delivery Strategies (Which Leverage Bim) Improve The Cost Certainty Of Large Complex Public Procurement Projects In The Context Of Irish Public Procurement?, Bim Tudublin, Roqaya Abouklaib

Capstone Reports

Cost overrun is one of the biggest issues in the construction sector, and cost certainty is one of the main aims of the public construction sector in Ireland. Studies have shown that multi-disciplinary collaboration will benefit a construction project throughout its lifecycle. BIM, Lean, and IPD are independent methodologies that encourage collaborative work, and there are existent effective synergies among these concepts. The synergetic innovative international strategies were utilised for delivering large complex projects successfully globally, and many authors have studied large complex public projects that have adopted innovative international project delivery strategies collaboratively and have shown that the cost …

A Critical Analysis Of The Application Of Augmented Reality (Ar) For Monitoring And Documentation Of Construction Site Progress In The Irish Aec Industry., Bim Tudublin, Lukasz Sarnot

Capstone Reports

Sarnot, L. (2021) A critical analysis of the application of augmented reality (AR) for monitoring and documentation of construction site progress in the Irish AEC industry, Capstone Project from the MSc in aBIMM

A Critical Examination Of Visual Programming And Generative Design For The Compliance Checking Of Open Plan Office Layouts Against Hse Guidelines Post Covid-19., Bim Tudublin, Ronan Byrne

Capstone Reports

The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility of Visual Programming (VP) and Generative Design (GD) in assisting employers review open plan office layouts against Ireland’s HSE guidelines implemented in May 2020 in response to Covid-19. The pandemic has affected all areas of life with workplace standards requiring a complete overhaul. This study will attempt to ascertain compliance with natural ventilation and social distancing requirements through the completion of an experimental research study, utilising Computational Design (CD) tools. A GD study will be undertaken to provide the designer with numerous office layout design solutions to evaluate and evolve. …

Opportunities In The Irish Reinforced Concrete Industry For Lean And Bim Adoption, Bim Tudublin, Kieran Mcconnell

Capstone Reports

The Irish Reinforced Concrete (RC) sector has yet to realise the full potential of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Lean construction. The positive impacts and benefits of both BIM and Lean in the wider Architecture, Engineering and Construction sector are widely recognised; many of these are transferable to the RC sector, but there is limited research and knowledge on practical transference, uses and advantages. This research aims to fill some of the existing knowledge gaps by examining BIM and Lean adoption and awareness in the Irish RC sector across sub-sectors, professions, and organisational levels, and by exploring opportunities for increasing …

A Critical Analysis Of How Large Irish Architectural Practices Responded To Initial Covid-19 Restrictions And The Affect Implementing Remote Working Had On Bim Processes, Policies, And People, Bim Tudublin, John Mcenroy

Capstone Reports

The unprecedent events which transpired in the 88-day period from the 31st of December 2019 to the 27th of March 2020 have changed the world in which we live and work. The outbreak of Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and the ensuing pandemic which has evolved are descripted as one in a hundred-year events. This paper researched and critically analyses the operations which large Irish Architecture firms initiated during this period in order to facilitate the ability of its employees working from a remote location, focusing on how the People, Processes and Policies of BIM (3 Ps of BIM); adapted to …

To What Extent Can Lean Construction Processes And Principles Be Utilised In The Design Stage Of A Bim Project In The Irish Design And Construction Industry, Bim Tudublin, Barry Sheramn

Capstone Reports

Although different in many ways, Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Lean Construction are two processes that are having a significant impact on the Design & Construction Industry. In recent years, the Irish AECO industry has seen a tenfold increase across numerous construction disciplines with the adoption of new workflows and processes centred around both BIM and Lean methodologies. Existing literature identifies a strong synergistic relationship between the two processes and highlights the opportunity for Lean processes and principles to be implemented into the design stage workflow. This paper investigated existing literature relating to several lean processes currently implemented in the …

Should Acoustic Simulation Technology Be Utilised In Architectural Practice? Does It Have The Potential For Bim Integration?, Bim Tudublin, Keith Harvey

Capstone Reports

The research presented in this paper, firstly, aims to convey the importance of our acoustic environment through focusing on the effects of undesirable acoustic conditions on cognitive abilities in spaces where cognitive performance is of the utmost concern, our learning environments. Secondly, it aims to investigate current state-of-the-art acoustic simulation methods, available platforms, and their levels of interoperability with architectural BIM authoring software. Structured interviews were carried out with 7 Irish architects and architectural technologists to determine if a disconnection between architectural design and acoustic performance exists and to identify the advantages and disadvantages of current workflows for acoustic performance …

An Examination Of The Use Of Geotechnical Bim To Provide Value Engineering Solutions For Coastal Infrastructure., Bim Tudublin, Eric Brennan

Capstone Reports

The digitisation of construction is taking root as Building Information Modelling is becoming more prevalent across the industry. From an Irish context, the adoption rate of BIM has been slow; nationally its advantages and merits have been welcomed and the appropriate government support is either available, soon to be implemented or in the early conceptual stage. Within the Irish governments Project Ireland 2040 framework there are significant infrastructure developments looming ahead, in particular regarding ports and harbours. The importance of this type of infrastructure is only further compounded due to the UK’s departure from the EU and the need for …

Workshop Outcomes Report: 1st International Workshop On Seismic Resilience Of Arctic Infrastructure And Social Systems, Majid Ghayoomi, Katharine Duderstadt, Alexander Kholodov, Alexander Shiklomanov, Matthew Turner, Elham Ajorlou

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.